Top 5 teams
1. Palm Coast Bulldogs (22-0)
Legendary Hall of Fame coach Steve DeAugustino single handly built Flagler Palm Coast into a fierce state wrestling empire during his 25+ year coaching career winning 25 conference titles, 22 district titles and 12 regional titles.
DeAugustino, who coached at Palm Coast from 1981-2007, became just the second ever coach in the state of Florida to win three consecutive state championships (1993-1995), while also guiding the Bulldogs to two state runner-up finishes (1989, 1996) and eight top 10 finishes since 1983.
After the program briefly struggled following his retirement, DeAugustino, now the athletic director at Palm Coast; turned over the program recently to one of his former students Tom Bartolotta, who was on the 1993 state championship team and was a state runner-up at 130 pounds.
Third year coach Bartolotta, looks to keep the tradition going coming off a fifth place finish at state last season in the states highest and toughest class as well as winning district and conference titles the last two years.
Under Bartolotta the Bulldogs are 52-0 in dual meets, including a 57-7 win over state power Clay last season.
Six key starters return including: sophomore Avery Holder (44-11) state qualifier, sophomore Michael DeAugustino (48-9) fourth place finisher, senior Evyn Insaclaco (50-7) sixth place finisher, senior Tariq Johnson (33-14) regional qualifier, senior Kaz Maia (50-3) state runner-up and senior Eric Rosso (38-17) regional qualifier.
Bartolotta expects big things from his lineup which will feature Chad Marshall (106), Avery Holder (113), Trace Insalaco (120), Michael DeAugustino (126), Michael Martins (132), Tariq Johnson (138), Evyn Insalaco (145), Kaz Maia (152), Eric Rosso (160), Eddie Bryant (170), Steve Candidate (182), Jason Muniz (195), Justin Haaf (220) and Vincent Ebanks (285).
“It’s going to be a really competitive match on Feb. 11 against Clay, who along with Fleming Island are going to extremely strong teams this year,” Bartolotta stated. “The three best teams in the area are Palm Coast, Clay and Palm Coast by a landslide and it will go either way between us three.”
2. Clay Blue Devils (26-3)
Since 1994, head coach Jim Reape has not only built Clay into the premiere program in Northeast Florida over the past 20 years but a consistent statewide powerhouse program as well.
Over the last two decades, Reape has guided the Blue Devils to 16 straight district titles, one state titles (2004), four state runner-up finishes (1999, 2011, 2012, 2013), 21 individual state champions, 90 state placers and eight Florida Times Union Wrestlers of the Year recipients.
Since 1998, Clay has placed in the top ten 18 straight years: 1998 (fifth), 1999 (state runner-up), 2000 (fifth), 2001 (third), 2002 (fifth), 2003 (fourth), 2004 (state champs), 2005 (fourth), 2006 (fifth), 2007 (third), 2008 (third), 2009 (seventh), 2010 (fourth), 2011 (state runner-ups), 2012 (state runner-ups), 2013 (state runner-ups), 2014 (fourth) and last years worst finish under Reape ninth place.
Reape had this to say about last season, “We placed ninth this year at the state tournament, not what we set out to do, but we we did have seven guys qualify (five of which come back next year), a two-time state champ (Adam Breindel), and two state placers (Kaleb Collins & Tristain Sichmeller).” Reape added. “We defeated everyone that placed ahead of us at the state championships during the season and/or prior off-season. So we know we can do better and get back on podium next year as a team.”
Two years ago, Clay saw its run of 14 consecutive regional titles come to an abrupt end thanks to redistricting and the addition of Orlando Lake Highland Prep into the region. Nemesis Lake Highland Prep has won state titles in 2012, 2013 and was state runnerups in 2014.
Since 2011, Class 1A has been a three team race for the state title between Cardinal Gibbons, Lake Highland Prep and Clay. This season shouldn’t be any different for the top three teams.
Among the returnees for the Blue Devils are junior Kaleb Collins (41-13), who placed fourth at 195 at state last year, junior Cody Taylor (37-18) 120 state qualifier, senior Dale Browning (37-11) 126 state qualifier, senior Roland Samec (41-13) 285 state qualifier, Chris Merring (28-14) 113 regional qualifier. Other contributors were Roy Runnels (132), Christian Downs (138), Connor Green (145), and Jeremy Beaulieu (220).
The addition of junior Keath Sawdo (33-10) a state 145 qualiier from Middleburg, incoming freshman Louis Gagliardo from New Jersey and senior Derek Miller a two time state placer from Paducah, Kentucky should only bolster an already lethal lineup.
3. Fleming Island Eagles (18-3)
While Palm Coast and Clay are clearly the premiere programs in the area, Fleming Island is slowly making a strong case to be mentioned in the same sentence with the other two programs.
Started in 2003, Fleming Island quickly established itself early on as a legitimate state title contender placing 65th in its inaugural season.
From there the program kept growing and getting only better and has continued for 12 straight years to place at state. Over the years, the Eagles have finished in the top 20 seven times including four straight years after a twelfth place finish last year.
Since opening, the Eagles finished seventh in 2014, 16th in 2013, 19th in 2012, 54th in 2011, 35th in 2010, 19th in 2009, 10th in 2008, 12th in 2007, 66th in 2006, 36th in 2005 and 65th in 2004.
Over the years the coaching comibination of fomer Orange Park High wrestlers Jeff Jordan and Travis Cunninham and now PJ Cobbert, 4-time state champion at Clay, have continued to lead the Eagles program into the state spotlight.
Returning for the Eagles are junior Xavier Sampsel (42-14) 120 sixth place finisher, junior David Detwiler (36-7) 138 state qualifier, junior John Martorano (44-9) 160 sixth place finisher, junior Tracy Davis (41-7) 126 regional qualifier, junior Jose Concepcion regional qualifier went 37-13, sophomore Ryan Smenda (35-20) regional qualifier and junior Paul Detwiler.
A pair of transfers Jacob Sandval from Celebration and junior Jason Davis (35-3), who is returning back to Fleming Island from Oakleaf after finishing third in 182 at the Class 2A state meet last season, should help with more depth in the already potent lineup.
4. Suwannee Bulldogs (N/A)
Over the last 30 years, Suwannee has seen its share of ups and downs but the program has been on one heck of a run.
Under longtime coach David Laxton who took over the program in 1982, Suwannee captured three state titles (1982, 1991, 1996),six state runner-up finishes (1995, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006, 2010) as well as many other top ten finishes through out his coaching career.
Laxton retired two years ago and turned the program over to his son Lee Laxton who guided the Bulldogs to a 15th place finish as seven guys qualified for state in his lone season. The younger Laxton resigned and decided to pursue other interests leaving the program searching for another coach again.
David Horne takes over the program, the former Suwannee High wrestler and Suwannee Middle School coach the last two seasons, inherits a very talented but young group who is coming off a fifteenth place finish at the Class 1A state meet.
Among the returnees are senior Tyler Foster (182) who finished fifth at state with a 41-5 record, junior Brandon Trask (103) state qualifier who finished 35-16, junior Michael Santangelo (113) state qualifier, junior Kenneth Foster (120) state qualifier, junior Tanner Clark (138) state qualifier and junior Joseph Borrell (145) honorable mention All-Gainesville Sun.
5. Middleburg (20-6)
Middleburg has had their share of success over the years and is coming off a 17th place finish at state last season. Expect the Broncos to be back in Kissimmee again and finish with another top 20 finish perhaps a top ten finish.
Among the key returnees are junior Dylan Rossetti (106) state qualifier who went 39-7, junior Jonathan Shoen (170) sixth at state who went 39-10, senior Ammon Meeks (195) regional qualifier and sophomore Kurt Jackson (182) regional qualifier with 24-17 record.
Honorable Mention
Orange Park (26-6)
With Clay, Fleming Island and Middleburg all being successful programs you think it would be hard for another Clay County program to be successul as well. Like Fleming Island, Orange Park has seen their share of top ten, fifteen and twenty finishes at state over the last ten years and even has had a handful of individual state title winners. The lists of returnees include junior Marcus Reid (113) who placed sixth at state going 35-6 and was also district champ and region runner-up along with sophomore Frank Sawyer (23-10) a regional qualifier.
Matanzas (26-5)
Living in the same city as arch-rival Palm Coast, Matanzas is often always overshadowed by the more statewide power with all the tradition. The Pirates are tired of living in their county rivals shadows and ready to make their own history. Among the returnees are seniors Jordin Castanheira (195) regional qualifier, Maverick Dennis (182) state qualifier, Kwentel Moultrie (170), Eddy Leon de la Cruz (152) state qualifier, Tristan Kraus (145) regional qualifier 32-15 record, Carter Goodman (132) district champion and senior Rocky Samples.
Creekside (27-3)
To be such a young program still Creekside is establishing itself as one of the top programs on the rise. The Knights return sophomore Ty Van Sickel (132) a region qualifier en route to a 34-4 finish last year, senior David Tyer (145) region qualifier, senior Willie Lucas (182) regional qualifier, senior Gus Fischer (220) regional qualifier and freshman Brandon Dickman (152) state qualifier who was 45-11 in his first season.
Columbia (N/A)
Columbia is often overshadowed by arch-rival Suwannee, but over the years has had its share of success too just not as consistent. Among the Tigers returnees are senior Marcus Ziegler (285) a regional qualifier and first team All-Area nominee by the Gainesville Sun after going 40-16, senior Austin Chapman (152), junior Josh Lynch (132) a regional qualifier who went 35-18, junior Chase Curtis (126) who was 24-2 last season and junior Robert Lynch (113).
2015-2016 High School Wrestling Preview
By Corey Davis
